Malcolm and Barnaby on a Thelma and Louise road trip but are they heading for the cliff?

Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis play two best friends whose weekend getaway unexpectedly takes them on an adventurous, often humorous race against time in Thelma & Louise. Barnaby Joyce and Malcolm Turnbull are also on the road. Photo: Andrew Meares

Tony Wright:Malcolm and Barnaby, best avoid the Grand Canyon

Finally surrounded, the canyon gaping before them, Malcolm turns to Barnaby and says: “Let’s not get caught.”

“What are you talking about?” Barnaby says, the wind in his hair.

“Let’s keep going,” Malcolm says, nodding towards the cliff. “Go.”

The ghost of a smile touches Barnaby’s lips as he takes in the view. He turns to Malcolm: “You sure?”

“Yeah,” Malcolm whispers, smiling but also crying.

They kiss and linger there for a moment. Then Barnaby floors it, wheels spraying red dust as the car hurtles towards the cliff.They grip hands and for a moment it’s like they’re flying … right before they plummet to their deaths.

If you’re going to compare your government to a movie, perhaps only Titanic would be worse choice than Thelma & Louise. Maybe Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is unfamiliar with how the 1991 classic ends?

“Barnaby and I are here on our road trip,” Mr Turnbull told a crowd in Rockhampton on day two of his four-day Queensland tour.

“It’s not Thelma and Louise, it’s Barnaby and Malcolm but we’re on the road trip and we’re having a great time.”